Dune * * * *

When I was young (so long ago) it seemed there wasn't a bedsit or students quarter or share house that didn't have a copy or two of Frank Herbert's novel  Dune kicking around. Every copy looked like it had been read by forty people.  It was more ubiquitous than a phone directory and about the same size.

So just to be different I never read it. 

It was made into a film in the eighties and directed by David Lynch, who is one of the most interesting directors in the history of cinema.  It was fascinating and incomprehensible, and it certainly didn't inspire me to change my mind and go read the novel. 

Anyway, after viewing this latest film I now know what the story is about. Set about 8000 years into the future, it struck me as a bit like Star Wars for grown ups.  It's full of refences and symbolism from  the Politics of super power countries, Brutal Colonisation, Palestine, Jesus the Messiah, Judas, Krishna, Horatio, Oedipus, Spartacus, Islam,  Shakespeare, Guru's, ESP, you name it, it'll probably be in there, all mixed together in the same pot. No wonder my hippie friends from years ago loved it!

Overall the story is quite simple: There is a planet that is nothing more than a huge sand dune which holds a "spice".   The spice has more value than anything else in the universe. There is an indigenous people on this planet but they are oppressed and pushed aside as their planet gets plundered for the spice. This exploitation is endorsed by a ruler of the universe who has appointed a custodian to mine the spice.  

One day The Emperor tells the current custodians they are out and he replaces them with another dynastic family. Called Atreidas .  At one stage they were all shouting "We are Atreidas", I thought they were shouting "We are Tradies".  And I was thinking, they don't look like Tradies.  The Atreidas have a son Paul who will be king one day and must be prepared, but already he is tormented by dreams and visions of his future. 

Chani, a Freman, one of the
indigenous people. Pretty dangerous!

The Atreidas family want to work cooperatively with the indigenous people, however the ones thrown out are not happy and are hustling to get back in again. Understandably, the very good looking indigenous people known as Fremans hate all of them.  The Fremans are experts in guerilla warfare.

There might be times when you are watching it and wondering what the heck is going on, especially as so many of the environments can look similar,  All big and grey.  Call me dumb (everyone else does) but it took me two viewings to get it. But I didn't mind, in fact on the second viewing I appreciated it a lot more.  My advice to you is to spoil it for yourself.  Go read the story first. No, not the house brick sized novel, just some synopsis.  

Overall it really is a beautiful looking film and I would encourage you to go see it on the bigger screen for the immersive experience.  The landscapes, the interiors of the buildings and the exteriors of the space craft are awesome. (Interestingly you hardly ever seen the interior of the space craft). Then there are these worms which are as big as a battle ship

There are more than a few questions (in fact millions!) that you'll be asking especially in regard to the technology. 8000 thousands years into the future and they get around on helicopters that look like mosquitos and sound like they're running on petrol, they physically fight with blades, and they have slide projectors from K-Mart.  But the overall atmosphere is so good and it looks so beautiful you will forgive most shortcomings, and like myself, you'll probably look forward to Part II. Especially as it finishes at a critical moment.